LESSONS FOR YOUNGSTERS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 14 October 1922, Page 3

LESSONS FOR YOUNGSTERS.

If you want to become good at i tennis, start young. Some writers try to make' out that this is difficult, I because tennis is not allowed in niost I English. schools (writes Randolph Lycett). ; ' ■ Well, when I -was at school I played the usual games, cricket and football,

and was just as enthusiastic over fnenx as the average boy. . But most boys can stand an. astonishing amount of exer.ise, and I was never too tired for a knock-up at tennis. ' At 16 I played in firstrclass tennis, and at the age of 18 won the Ausi tralian doubles championship. I I had no particular method of developing my game; I had never had any lessons or coaching. I simply played as hard and • often as I could, and practiced my strokes at every opportunity. I am helped by being the possessor of a very quick eye, but I have always treated tennis purely as a game, and never allowed it to interfere with my business. MJethuen and Co., Ltd. (London) have published three interesting booklets on lawn tennis, written by the exworld's champion W. T. Tilden, and published at 2s 6d net. _ The first is entitled "Lawn Tennis for Young Players," and has been written for youngsters who are just starting out to be lawn tennis players, and who wish to learn the fundamentals of the sport correctly, and to build up their game on a sound basis. The book, which contains 11 illustrations from action photographs, is the story of a personal friend of the author's, whom, ho coached and who, the author believes, will some day become world-famous. Equipment, sportsmanship, how to start, "don'ts," the holding of the racket, the strokesdrives, service, volieys, smashes—correct form, etc.,, are all ably and entertainingly dealt with in a simple manner, and the boy who not only reads, but studies, the maxims laid down cannot but benefit considerably. The second book, entitled "Lawn Tennis- for Club Players/* is written for cluo members desirous of improving their game. Much of what is written in the first volume regarding stroke production is repeated in this booklet, but in addition directs attention clearly to the common faults developed by the average club player who has developed his own game and style in a haphazard way. In the, words of the author—"There are many tennis players who get stuck in the, mud of mediocrity and never 'get anywhere,' simply because they do not know just what particular gob of _ mud is holding them back! In fchis little book I am going to turn road-imiHer for a while, and see if I ma-vbe instrumental in pulling «• few mud-botind tennis games out of the>. rnt tti which they are stuck by point-

£pg out the common errors that form' Ithe sink-hole in which ''many players IRnd themselves stuck." Mr. Tilden deserves to attain his obfect, and the 11 action photographs of famous players should be helpful. "The third book, also illustrated with & different set of action photographs, jjs written for match players and ex- ; jperts. The lesson which the author; jßeeks tt» convey is that thought counts jfor. quite as much as perfect execution. The correct behaviour of a player on J jEhe court is stressed, and worry, ncr- j yousness, and training are touched ■ j&pon. Good advice as to keeping fit 5a given, and also as to the conserva^i pon of energy. _ | Championship tennis, writes Mr." TiL jßeTi, "is fundamentally psychology. flFhe crack player does not need to iworry seriously over the mere matter jrf Jutting the ball, Ife is not ■ the ljuestion of how to hit it that is the Jag factor of championship tennis. It i 8s where to hit/ and why, that! (counts." Taking it for granted that {kite reader is familiar with stroke [technique 'and footwork, the -author discusses tactics, generalship, and psy. tehology in a lucid and eminently readSable manner.